The British Army is set to bring artificial intelligence into the heart of combat training through a new digital Combat Laboratory that blends live exercises, virtual battlefields, and AI-powered analytics.
The capability is part of a 2-billion-pound ($2.7-billion) Ministry of Defence program awarded to Omnia Training, a Raytheon UK-led consortium comprising Capita, Cervus, Rheinmetall UK, and Skyral.
Under the 16-year contract, the team will deliver the army’s Collective Training Service, using AI and advanced analytics to recreate modern battlefield conditions and help prepare troops for future conflicts.
AI Combat Laboratory
The Combat Laboratory will combine live training, virtual simulations, and AI-driven analytics in a single environment.
The platform will assess exercises, identify patterns, and track performance to help commanders and troops make better-informed decisions during training.
Designed to support units ranging from 100 to 50,000 personnel, the system will also enable distributed training while incorporating lessons from the war in Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defence expects the system to prepare up to 60,000 British Army personnel each year under the army’s Collective Training Transformation Programme.
Preparing Soldiers for Future Warfare
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the platform will improve warfighting readiness across every level of command while improving interoperability with NATO and allied forces.
Defense secretary Dan Jarvis said the program will ensure British soldiers receive the training needed to respond to evolving threats.
“Our soldiers serve our nation with courage and exceptional dedication. I am absolutely determined they get the quality training they need to keep us safe,” Jarvis said.
James Gray, managing director and chief executive of Raytheon UK, said the consortium will deliver a new level of realism for soldiers and commanders through the integrated training environment.
“Our UK-based team of innovators, engineers and experts will give soldiers and commanders a new level of training realism and set an example for effective collaboration between the Army and industry,” Gray said.
The Ministry of Defence added that the contract will support around 400 jobs across the UK, including 270 roles in software engineering, artificial intelligence, cloud engineering, and data analytics.
It will also fund 100 apprenticeships with Wiltshire College and the University of Staffordshire to help develop the next generation of defence technology specialists.
